Captain Yankee X-Strong Americana Portion Snus: the new Nick and Johnny snus for Norway

Captain Yankee Americana X-Strong Snus: a new snus for Norway

If you’re an American snus user, don’t look for Captain Yankee X-Strong Americana Snus by Nick and Johnny in the local tobacco or convenience store…unless you are visiting Norway. While Captain Yankee will be available world-wide (where legal) through internet snus stores like the incompareable SnusCentral.com Snus Shop, its primary market is Norway.

Captain Yankee Americana is as American a name for a snus as you could design without beating someone over the head with a bald eagle. It comes in a cool but decidedly American themed can.

The flavor profile couldn’t be more American; Swedish Match describes it as a new extreme snus inspired by American flavors with a distinct taste of cherry, wintergreen and cinnamon. If this snus were any more American, you would have to salute the can before opening it!

After all this sinks in, you may be asking yourself why was Captain Yankee X-Strong Americana snus designed for…. Norway? Why didn’t Swedish Match slap the General brand name on it and offer Captain Yankee over the counter in the USA?

Norway Loves Swedish Snus and Americana

Over 49MM cans of Swedish snus was sold in Norway last year. All 50 United States only sold the same 49MM during the same time period. Norway is a very hot market for Swedish snus.

As in Sweden, the two largest competitors in Norway are Swedish Match AB and Imperial Tobacco. Imperial Tobacco, owners of Skruf AB, recently introduced their own Norwegian-centric brand, nord66° by skruf.

Swedish Match’s Nick and Johnny and Lab Series brands of snus was designed based on Norwegian snus market tastes. The Nick and Johnny snus brand received a major refresh beginning in 2011. Two years later it is already the 4th top selling snus brand in Norway.

As a happy coincidence, Norwegian and American snus users share a common love for nicotine. Lots of nicotine. Perhaps unintentially at the time, both Nick and Johnny Snus and The Lab snus became successful for Swedish Match in the USA via the internet snus eStores.

Still, why would Captain Yankee X-Strong Americana Snus with its oddly unique American flavor profile be designed primarily for Norwegian snusers?

Speaking with some Norwegians, I discovered something heartening in these “death to America” times: things and trends American are very positive and strong in Norway right now! We are loved by another country! I’m tearing up.

Norway is also breathtakingly beautify. I’ve followed Visit Norway on facebook for some time and the pictures are stunning. I’m not sucking up to Norway….but I am grateful they like both Americans and nicotine.

Will Captain Yankee X-Strong Americana Snus by Nick and Johnny be popular in the US as well as Norway?

Marcus Carlsson of Swedish Match put it this way: “Captain Yankee is designed for Norway and its consumers, but we also believe that the product has great potential in other markets, where the product is very unique in its expression and taste.“

Translating his Swedish corporate-speak, in English I think that would be “Woo-Hoo”! Captain Yankee is being released during Week 36; the first week of September 2013. Buy a can and let us know what you think!

Enjoy your REAL Snus,